Set in an entirely unrealistic future, James DeMonaco's The Purge takes place during one night, when citizens are given their annual 12-hours stint during which all criminal activity"”including murder"”is legal. Ravaged by crime, this is the new America. Participation is your choice, but ultimately everyone must fight to make it through the night.
Ethan Hawke stars as James Sandin, a successful security system salesman who expects little excitement in his high-end neighborhood during the annual event. But an unexpected visitor turns his night into a living hell as his family finds themselves the target of a mass purge, forcing each to dig deep and decide at what price they will turn into the monsters they have been striving to avoid.
A unique premise paves way to high expectations, and while The Purge delivers on many of them, it ultimately falls short thanks to inadequate follow through and a lack of attention to detail. Too many holes exist within the confines of the story as I continued to find myself distracted for simplistic ways to avoid nearly every situation.
I became increasingly frustrated with the couple's son, Charlie, as he continues to be shortsighted, unable to fully process the situation and understand the results of his actions. Stirring up emotions throughout the film is a good thing, but keeping someone angry at the progressing events handicaps their ability to truly enjoy what they are watching.
I will admit that while most of the "twists" were easily seen from twenty minutes away; I was still entertained by the intensity that was steadily built throughout the film's first half hour. The climatic invasion delivered tenfold as you couldn't help but lean forward in high alert as truly everyone seemed vulnerable. DeMonaco's ability to create truly horrifying sequences helped to mask the film's numerous pitfalls as he used the genre's regular scare tactics to the film's overall benefit.
A strong blend of comedy and scares helps to distract your attention just long enough to make the final payoff worth your time"”even if it doesn't come as much of a surprise. Sometimes a film doesn't need to be perfect to work. The Purge, thanks to its tone, its strong acting, and its ability to be frighteningly scary (and at times funny) is a summer winner.
